What to Do When You Suffer a Dental Injury at Work
No matter where you are, dental injuries are difficult to endure. However, when dental injuries occur at your workplace, it can be even more complicated to deal with. Just like any other type of injury that occurs due to your occupation, dental injuries at work should be filed under worker’s compensation. Not all dentists accept worker’s comp dental treatments, so it is important to do your homework ahead of time or you may be left responsible for the entire bill.
You don’t have to be a construction worker or police officer to be at risk for a dental injury. Even a corporate professional who sits behind a desk all day is susceptible to accidental injuries at work. This can involve slipping and falling from an unmarked puddle of water at your office and suffering from a broken tooth or other type of mouth injury. Unfortunately, there are countless ways to injure your teeth, jaw and gums, but when the trauma occurs at work, you need to follow certain action steps.
Action Steps After Your Injury
If dental worker’s comp is approved and goes as planned, you can expect to receive compensation benefits to pay for your medical and dental bills, time off work, mileage you will incur from going back and forth and other expenses related to the dental accident. However, there are certain procedure steps that must be followed to prevent your claim from being denied.
First, make sure you inform your supervisor about the incident. If your employer says you are not covered, consider getting a lawyer. You must know your rights when it comes to dental worker’s comp. After reporting the incident, your next step is to find dentist that is a participating provider of the worker’s comp program. Depending on the severity and type of your dental injuries, you may need emergency treatment. In some cases, dental problems arise several days after an incident at work, so be sure to see a dentist at the first onset of symptoms. A worker’s comp dentist will develop a treatment plan to restore your teeth or jaw as well as obtain any prior authorization that may be needed.
It will be important to distinguish pre-existing dental issues (such as untreated cavities and gum disease) from the dental problems you incurred at your workplace or due to your specific occupation. Staying on top of your dental care every six months can help you avoid confusion or a “messy” claim.
Common dental injuries treated by worker’s comp include:
• Chipped Tooth
• Gum irritation
• Severe cuts on lips, gums
• Part or whole tooth knocked out
• Loose tooth
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome
Finding a Worker’s Comp Dentist
If you live in Elk Grove, you will be pleased to know that our team at Laguna West Dental Care works with patients that have a workers’ comp claim. We will ensure the right forms and information are submitted to have dental care covered for legitimate dental workers’ comp claims. Contact us today to schedule your visit!